Rory Best will complete a perfect circle if Ireland can upset the wannabe Grand Slammers on this afternoon of Six Nations farewells.

Rewind to February 26, 2006, and Best was making his Six Nations debut in a comprehensive 31-6 rout of Wales at Lansdowne Road.

Just over 13 years later, Best’s 64th and last championship game has arrived - and the opposition is the same, though not the venue.

His goodbye isn’t quite on the level of Brian O’Driscoll’s in terms of fanfare and longetivity - even if we won’t be seeing the last of the 36-year-old until Ireland’s World Cup involvement ends late this year.

After all, he only made his future plans known before last week’s victory over France.

But, at the same time, Best knows himself that a good thing can’t last forever. Just as Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland are saying goodbye to the championship late this afternoon, so too is the Ulsterman.

“There’ll be moments,” Best replied, when asked if he will be emotional today.

“When you leave the bedroom for the team meeting, hopping on the bus, during the anthems - those moments dawn on you as the last in a Six Nations game.

“You’ll miss the little high bits - that first whistle when the crowd goes bananas. The atmosphere in the changing room after, when everyone is sitting down, absolutely knackered. Those moments will make you emotional.

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“But I’ve probably dragged the ass out of it long enough at this stage.

“I’ve always said if I could pick when I want to leave, I want to go on my terms when I’m playing well. I feel I’m playing well at the moment and I’m looking forward to what comes, hopefully, at the end of the year.”

Sitting before us in the bowels of the stadium and sporting his last Six Nations shiner, the two-time Grand Slam winner and four-time championship victor reflects on the feelings swirling around his head since he made his choice.

“One part of me will really miss these games, these build-ups,” the vastly experienced hooker confessed.

“But there’s another part of me, when you’re trying to force a pre-match meal down your neck and you’re incredibly nervous...you’d really rather be somewhere else than that room at that moment.

“I look forward to being able to spend the day with the family watching rugby - and maybe allow my family enjoy watching rugby. I don’t think my mum and dad have enjoyed an Ireland game of rugby since 2005, with nerves.